The Buncombe County Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) department recently hosted its third annual Careers on Wheels event, which welcomed hundreds of fifth graders from across the county to explore exciting pathways for their future.
Designed to bring the world of work to life, the event featured an impressive lineup of local and regional professionals who rolled in with vehicles, tools, and demonstrations from a variety of industries. Students had the opportunity to step into the shoes of skilled tradespeople, first responders, and business leaders - all while learning how CTE programs in middle and high school can help them prepare for these careers.
Interactive stations included representatives from a tree trimming company, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Asheville Police Department, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Buncombe County EMS, Skyland Fire Department, United States Army, Chick-Fil-A, and many others. Each station offered hands-on experiences - from climbing into the driver’s seat of emergency vehicles and exploring specialized equipment to sampling food from local vendors and learning how technology powers different career fields.
“Careers on Wheels is about sparking curiosity and showing students the variety of opportunities right here in our community,” said a CTE representative. “We want every child to see that learning a skill or exploring a passion can lead to a rewarding career.”
As the engines revved and sirens blared, the event rolled forward with plenty of laughter, questions and inspirations. The event gave students a glimpse of the many roads their education can lead them down through Buncombe County Schools’ CTE programs.
